Jeff Fisher

Dave Reginek/Getty Images

Enjoyment of the game. That is without a doubt the most important thing Jeff Fisher has instilled in the 2012 St. Louis Rams.

I had always heard that he was a "player's coach," without ever really knowing why. After watching his sideline reactions (like the one pictured above), it became crystal clear. The players love playing for him because he loves his job and he shows it.

That kind of enthusiasm is infectious. Since arriving in St. Louis in January, he has been able to remind a franchise that has gone 16-65 since 2007 that the Rams are still playing a game, so they'd might as well have some fun.

Defense Capable of Doing Some Special Things

A lot of this can be attributed to Jeff Fisher and new Rams general manager Les Snead.

Last year, despite somehow miraculously ranking seventh in the NFL in passing defense, the Rams' cornerback situation was atrocious. They went through 10 of them by late November.

In the offseason—because of Jeff Fisher's presence—St. Louis was able to land Cortland Finnegan in free agency. Then, Fisher and Snead worked together to take Janoris Jenkins and Trumaine Johnson in the draft, giving the Rams' secondary the potential to be one of the best in the NFL.

That potential is quickly becoming a reality. Finnegan and Jenkins are each playing exceptionally well, and the Rams defense as a whole has eight interceptions through four games—only four interceptions shy of its season total from last year.

With an improved linebacking corps and the return of 2012 first-round pick Michael Brockers to help shore up the run defense, the St. Louis Rams defensive unit could wind up being one of the scariest in the NFL.

Seeing both of them in action in Week 4 against the Seattle Seahawks is encouraging.

Brian Quick is the big target that the Rams have not had in a very long time. Givens has the speed to be a genuine deep threat outside the numbers—something else the Rams have not had for far too long.

If those two can get on the field and stay on it, then the slot will open up for Danny Amendola and the running game will open up for Steven Jackson.

Greg the Leg, or Legatron

Greg Zuerlein played for Division II school Missouri Western, where he set an NCAA record with 21 consecutive field goals, nine of which came from beyond 50 yards

Four games into his rookie season, he is 12-for-12 on field-goal attempts, including a 56-yarder in open-air Soldier Field in Week 3, a 58-yarder in Week 4 against the Seahawks (which set a Rams record) and a 60-yarder later in that same game (which broke his own record set just two quarters before).

Zuerlein's leg is so strong that the Rams merely have to get to an opponent's 45-yard line to be in his range. This drastically shortens the field for an offense that needs all the help it can get. Without Greg Zuerlein, the Rams don't beat the Seahawks in Week 4.